From steel to Gundam: Japan's changing exports

Forget TVs and steel, today's mix includes high-quality lipstick, rice and figurines

20220526N Gundam plastic model

"Gunpla," as fans of Gundam plastic models call them, are growing in popularity overseas.

YUJI NITTA and JYO CHOU, Nikkei staff writers

TOKYO -- While televisions and other electronics dominated Japanese exports when the yen last depreciated to current levels 20 years ago, cosmetics and figurines have now taken over to become the poster children of the country's manufacturing.

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